How do you all manage to schedule and eat out while on a diet?!!

I have started my diet in earnest and am working hard on managing my meals, but the biggest obstacle is scheduling meals out with friends.

It is a precious meeting, so I can't just skip it, but I also worry that flatly refusing makes my social circle shrink, so I struggle with this dilemma every time. Once I actually go, it feels awkward to bring a salad all by myself given the atmosphere, and there is a limit to how long I can resist delicious food right in front of me. I am curious how everyone else manages to flexibly decide on a location when plans come up while they are on a diet.

I try to steer the meal toward options focused on protein and vegetables, such as shabu-shabu, Vietnamese spring rolls, or grilled meat restaurants, but since the other person has their own preferences, it is difficult for me to always decide on my own. Also, when we inevitably end up eating high-calorie food, I would like to know if you have any tips on how you manage your diet and exercise for the following day or the next.

It would be a great help if dieters could share their smart ways of handling eating out or some tips, such as whether you use intermittent fasting before or after appointments, or offset it by drinking plenty of water or increasing your exercise!